Arsenal are still hot on the heels of Benfica starlet, Andrija Živković according to reports emerging from Portuguese newspaper A Bola. Arsene Wenger has been monitoring the 21-year-old for some time now. He sent his scouts to watch Živković take the pitch in the Primeira Liga clash with Maritimo on Saturday.
The Serbian attacker is capable of playing as a number nine but is best suited to the right wing. He has racked up 3 goals and 5 assists in 21 total appearances and Arsene Wenger is thinking about making an official approach.
Živković started his professional career with FK Partizan and went on to make his senior team debut on 28 April 2013. After making 93 total appearances for the Serbian outfit, he was signed by Benfica in the summer of 2016 on a five-year deal. He is the youngest player to make a senior team appearance for the Serbian national team aged 17. He was an integral part of the U20 national team and led his side to win the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Živković has boundless potential under his belt which could be unlocked further in the spotlights of the world’s most viewed footballing league and under Arsene Wenger. Ever since Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made their respective switches to Everton and Liverpool in the last two transfer windows, the Gunners have been left significantly short-staffed in the wing department.
Živković’s game draws some comparisons to that of Lucas Perez who is also an Arsenal player and is currently serving a loan-spell with his former club, Deportivo de La Coruna.
A versatile attacker who can supply balls from the wide areas while at the same time be impactful inside the opposition box, could turn out to be a massive difference maker in Wenger’s side.
The Gunners are coming off their 4th loss in a row against Brighton And Hove Albion on the weekend.
Their ambitions of improving upon their 6th place finish might already be dead and the Europa League is turning out to be their most important battle. Wenger still has to figure a deal for Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere with both their contracts coming to an end fast.
Živković is a promising young player who in today’s market will cost a significant amount. Wenger will have to operate with the players he currently has at hand (Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Danny Welbeck) while still trying to sign the Serbian in the next transfer window.
The final third has looked like an incomplete puzzle without a pacey presence to spread the floor. Živković is the ideal choice to fill in the void left by Alexis Sanchez on the left wing.
